Device for cleaning fluid-pens.



No. 768,637. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

A. J. THOWLESS.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLUID PENS. APPLIUATION FILED` JUNE 1s. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

Patented August 30, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEETCE.

ARTHUR J. THOVVLESS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLUID-PENS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 768,637, dated August 80, 1904. Application filed June 18, 1904. Serial No. 213,196. (No model.)

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. THowLEss, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Cleaning' Fluid- Pens, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in y the means for cleaning the pen-holding part part of a fountain-pen and the cleaning dey vice detached from each other. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. l, with the difference that Fig. 2 shows the pen-holding part and the cleaning device attached. Fig. 3 is across-sectional view of the plug C, showinga screw-thread E inside. Fig. I is asectional view of the plug C, but 'showing a screw-thread L outside the plug' C. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the plug C with slightlytapering part J. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the plug C and portion of pen-holding part I.

Like letters of reference designate correspending parts in the several views of the drawings, and in this respect A represents a bulb made of rubber or some other material possessing the same general charac- 'teristics and may be round or of other suitable shape, having an elongated part B, which may taper from the bulb A, so that it fits tightly on the elongated part D of the plug C. This part D should be of suiicient length and be inclosed by the elongated part Bin such a manner that a very tight and close attachment may beheld between them, as otherwise the perfect working of the cleaner might be marred.

The plug' C is hollow and may be made of metal, rubber, porcelain, or other suitable material and has a screw-thread E cut or otherwise formed on the inner part of it of a size suitable for engaging with the screwthread H, which is cut on the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen and is represented as I. In some cases and to lit certain makes of fountain-pens it may be found necessary to form a screw-thread on the outer part of the plug C, as is shown in Fig. 4 at L, or even to do without a screw-thread entirely and instead make that part of the plug C as a closely-fitted tapered piece, as in Fig. 5 at J.

F shows a small space between the penholding part I and that part of the plug C which comes in contact with it, and this contact part is shown at Gr. The screw-thread H, Fig. l. is shown as formed on the outside of pen-holding part I and screws into the thread E.

The letter K shows the ordinary ink-feed, while the letter P is the writing pen-point itself in its natural position.

M is the shoulder, extending up from the plug C, and N is amore or less flexible washer placed between the parts to make a tightjoint.

In carrying out the invention, as fountainpens may be made of various sizes, so the cleaning device may be formed of sizes to suit ditlerent pens. Also the operative parts can be made of any suitable material for the proper working of the invention.

When the parts are properly constructed and arranged, there is formed a device that will serve to clean the pen-holding part of fountain-pens or similar articles in a simple, eflicient, and satisfactory manner.

To attain a cleaningl result, the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen is removed from the ink reservoir or barrel, and then by attaching' the cleaning device to the pen-holding part and immersing the pen in water or other cleaning liquid a pressure of the lingers will cause the bulb to collapse. Then by removing the pressure the cleaning liquid will iiow through the pen-holding part to the bulb A,

passing' through the elongated part D on its way, and can then be forced out again by pressure on the bulb A.' This is repeated again and again until the cleaning' is completed, when the device may be removed and the penholding part restored to its place on the barrel. As it may be necessary to use considerable pressure to force the cleaning fluid back from the bulb A, itis needful to see that proper union is made between the different parts. Therefore the joint between the part B and the plug C should in all cases be a good one, or the exerted pressure might tend to force the part B off the plug C. So for further protection a sufficient length should be given to the elongated part D to obviate the difculty referred to. It might also be found advisable in some cases to attach the part B on the part D with a small quantity of cement.

1n this specification the words pen-holding part are used to denote that part of a fountain-pen which can be separated from the ink-barrel and is to be understood as including the ink-feeding part. Furthermore, in the operation of cleaning the pen-holding part the device cleans the pen-point at the same time unless actually removed, which is not at all necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A device for cleaning the pen-holding part of fountain-pens comprising a bulb adapted to receive and discharge liquids, the outlet of which is tightly compressed on a plug, said plug having a screw-thread formed to engage with a corresponding screw-thread contained in the pen-holding part, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. A device for cleaning the pen-holding part of fountain-pens and similar articles comprising' a collapsible bulb adapted to receive and discharge liquids by compression and ineans fastened thereto whereby it can be attached to the pen-holding part of a fountainpen.

3. A device for cleaning' the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen comprising a bulb adapted to receive and discharge liquids, having an elongated tube portion and means for attaching' it to the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen.

Il. A device for cleaning the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen, comprising a bulb, made of rubber or other similar material, having an elongated tube portion, a plug with an elongation which passes into the bul b-tube and having on its other end suitable means for connecting the plug with the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen.

5. In a device for cleaning the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen the combination with a collapsible bulb of a tube and a plug forsecurely attaching the same to the pen-holding part of a fountain-pen. l

6. A new article of manufacture comprising a device for cleaning the pen-holding part of fountain-pens, having within itself and fastened thereto means for enabling it to be closely attached to the pen-holding part.

ARTHUR J. THOlVLESS.

Witnesses:

JNO. MACLAUGHLAN, JOHN WV. BosTWIcK, Jr. 

